The Refused Heiress

Chapter 2 Will You Marry Me?

Elena braced herself, but the slap never came. She opened her eyes and followed Edgar's gaze to see the newcomer.

It was Edgar's uncle and the true power behind the Smith family—Felix Smith.

Dressed in a black suit, Felix exuded an icy, oppressive authority as he approached.

"U-Uncle, what... what are you doing here?" Edgar's bravado dissolved instantly, his raised hand awkwardly hovering before he lowered it with a sheepish grin.

Felix came to a stop in front of Elena. The air around him was frigid, and Elena, instinctively, lowered her gaze, unable to meet his piercing eyes.

An intense silence fell over the crowd, and as Elena wondered why Felix was here, a finely tailored jacket draped over her shoulders.

Stunned, Elena looked up as a deep, calm voice floated above her. "It's chilly. Go inside and change."

Felix's unexpected kindness stunned not only her but also Edgar, whose expression flickered with jealousy. He knew that Felix had always been indifferent.

He scowled at Elena and protested, "Uncle, why are you bothering with this crazy woman? Look at my face—she slapped me!"

The slap she'd given him in front of everyone was, to him, a disgrace to the entire Smith family.

"So what? You planning on hitting her back?"

Felix's gaze barely lingered on him, but a faint crease appeared between his brows, making Edgar visibly flinch.

"I... She..." Edgar's face flushed a deeper red as he stumbled over his words.

Hearing Felix's defense, Elena felt the tears she'd held back finally escape, sliding silently down her cheeks.

Her own brother had watched from nearby as Edgar had raised his hand to strike her, yet this man, practically a stranger, stepped in to protect her.

Felix's low, steady voice broke through her thoughts. "What are you crying for? Not satisfied yet?"

Elena looked up, catching his sharp gaze, softened ever so slightly with a hint of warmth.

Maybe it was because she had once saved him in a small act of kindness, but Felix seemed different with her.

Elena felt a pang of vulnerability and nodded, her resolve growing stronger.

She was breaking off her engagement with Edgar, no matter what.

Let him love Mia or even her adoptive sister, Angelina—just as long as it had nothing to do with her.

The idea that she truly intended to call off the engagement didn't seem to have crossed Edgar's mind.

He clung protectively to Mia, glaring indignantly at Felix. "Uncle, she pushed Mia into the pool and even dragged her own sister down with her—a real viper..."

Before he could finish, Felix slapped hard across Edgar's face.

The crisp sound startled everyone around, and nobody dared to breathe.

The force of the blow sent Edgar stumbling backward in disbelief. "Uncle..."

"Shut up!"

Felix's aura was imposing as he looked down on Edgar with disdain. "The Smith family has an engagement with the Hall family. This is a Hall family event, yet you bring your mistress here. And somehow, you're blaming her?"

Felix was second only to his father, Tyson Smith, in authority.

With him backing Elena, Edgar had no choice but to grit his teeth and hold back.

Mia, sensing Edgar's anger, started whimpering, "Mr. Smith, it's my fault. I begged Edgar to bring me. He... he couldn't refuse me..."

Felix couldn't care less. With a frigid glance, he silenced her instantly.

"I'll be informing my father about tonight's events. You'd better handle it well!" Felix stated coldly, his words meant as a warning to Edgar.

Edgar, still reeling from the slap and the reprimand, was even angrier.

After all, he was supposed to be the Smith family's future heir!

After he married Elena, he would definitely make Felix pay!

But now, he couldn't stand against Felix yet. His gaze darkened as it shifted back to Elena.

Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her close, and hissed in her ear, "You want to break off the engagement? Over my dead body. But don't think I'm going to be faithful to you after we're married."

The Hall family's engagement with the Smiths was a promise made by Tyson and Elena's late grandfather, Gerard Hall.

They had been close friends, and with both families' businesses thriving, they agreed to link their legacies through marriage.

The Smith family had no daughters, and Elena was the only legitimate daughter of the Hall family.

Initially, her parents and her brother, Dylan Hall, had wanted Angelina to marry into the Smith family.

But Tyson had been adamant that only Elena was the true Hall family daughter.

Back then, Angelina had a crush on Edgar, but he only had eyes for Elena.

Because of this, Dylan never missed an opportunity to make her life difficult, always claiming she was stealing Angelina's love interest and that he was simply defending Angelina's honor.

Elena had never understood why Dylan, her blood brother, was never on her side.

Elena had been close to Edgar since childhood, their affection mutual, and they had gotten engaged as soon as she turned eighteen.

Back then, Edgar treated her with tenderness, always lowering his pride to appease her when she was in a mood.

But everything had changed since then.

Edgar had an affair with Mia, growing colder and more distant toward Elena.

Yet she had clung to the past and believed that he would come back to her.

Only now, in this moment, did she finally realize the truth: her parents, Edgar, Dylan... none of them truly loved her.

So why should she keep compromising?

With that thought, she shoved Edgar's hand off her and delivered another resounding slap to his face.

"I told you, I'm not marrying you!"

Edgar's face twisted with rage as he hovered on the edge of an outburst.

In the background, Angelina leaned into Reela's arms, crying softly. "Elena, Grandfather made this engagement before he passed. It was his dying wish that our two families would unite. Are you really going to let him down by breaking it?"

Angelina's words ignited a fresh wave of indignation from the crowd, including Elena's own mother, Reela.

Their reputation was everything to them; otherwise, they would have contested the Smith family's initial rejection of Angelina's suitability.

Now, Reela looked at Elena as if she were a criminal, her voice laced with bitterness. "Your grandfather cherished you more than anything. Are you really going to defy his last wish?"

Even Dylan, who had been watching the scene unfold, added with a smug tone, "That's right, Elena. Surely you wouldn't want to tarnish Grandfather's legacy?"

This was what happened when someone was abandoned by everyone around her.

If this had been Angelina facing humiliation, would they be so dismissive?

Murmurs swept through the crowd. By tomorrow, the whole city would be buzzing with the story of the Hall family favoring the adopted daughter over their own.

Elena's heart sank, hardening with each word until it was as cold and unyielding as stone.

Edgar's mocking laugh echoed in her ears. "Just accept it, Elena."

She lifted her head and stared at him, seeing only a stranger where her beloved once stood.

No way!

Why should she accept this?

With an icy voice, Elena brushed him aside. "Move!"

In truth, Edgar's transformation hadn't happened overnight—she had just been blind to it. But now, she saw it all too clearly: he didn't love her anymore.

So why should she keep letting him walk all over her?

Ignoring the shocked expression on Edgar's face, Elena turned and walked toward Felix.

Felix was Tyson's youngest son, and he was only five years older than Edgar. Tyson always doted on him dearly.

Elena vaguely recalled that Felix had once been considered as a potential match within the Smith family.

Her grandfather's wish was for the two families to unite through marriage. Elena wasn't about to let that wish go unfulfilled.

But her choice didn't have to be Edgar!

Even if it seemed like a desperate attempt, she had to reach for Felix.

She stepped forward, clutching his sleeve tightly. "Felix, will you marry me?"